Laparoscopic telescope lens cleaner and protector

ABSTRACT

A simple, rapid and effective device for cleaning the objective lens of a laparoscope, endoscope, coeloscope or similar telescope, without the removal of said telescope from the body cavity, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device consists of a tube, the inner diameter of which is such that it accepts the shaft of such telescope. On the inner circumference, near to or at one end of the tube, is a ridge that can direct a flow of fluid within the tube onto the objective lens at the end of a telescope shaft inserted within the tube. At the other end of the tube there is a means of making a seal, such as a flexible O-ring, that prevents or reduces the leakage of air and/or fluid between the tube and the inserted shaft of the telescope. There is an aperture in the tube which gives access to the inside of the tube. Prior to use, the shaft of the telescope is inserted into the invention so that the end of the telescope, containing the objective lens, touches or almost touches the ridge. During operation, whenever the objective lens at the end of the telescope shaft becomes soiled or obscured, fluid is injected through the aperture via a fixture. The fluid flows between the telescope shaft and the inner wall of the tube until it reaches the ridge which directs the fluid over the objective lens, washing the lens and improving or restoring visibility.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning andprotecting the objective lens of a laparoscope, endoscope, orcoeloscope. It is to be noted that the term "telescope" is used hereinto describe a laparoscope, endoscope, coeloscope or rigid or relativelyrigid optical device used for the observation of structures within abody cavity and/or procedures within a body cavity. In particular, theinvention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning and protectingthe objective lens of such telescopes whilst the telescope is in usewithin a body cavity.

BACKGROUND ART

Certain operative procedures, particularly laparoscopy, hysteroscopy,endoscopy and coeloscopy, require the insertion into a body cavity, suchas the abdominal cavity, of the objective lens of a laparoscope,endoscope, coeloscope or similar telescope in order to view features andstructures within the body cavity and/or to view diagnostic or operativeprocedures carried out within the cavity.

Such telescopes usually consist in part of a rigid or relatively rigidrod or shaft of approximately 300-500 mm length, with an outer diameterof 5 mm to 11 mm, having an objective lens at one end and an eyepiece atthe other end. The rod or shaft of the telescope containslight-transmitting glass fibres and/or rod lenses.

A prerequisite for the utilisation of such telescopes is theillumination of the structures within the body cavity with clear, brightlight. To achieve this, the telescope also normally has a connection,adjacent to the eyepiece, for the attachment of an external light sourcewhich provides illumination, via light-transmitting fibres within thetelescope, of the features within the body cavity.

Prior to the introduction of the telescope, the body cavity is generallyinflated with a gas, usually carbon dioxide, using a gas insufflator.Subsequently a plastic or metal sleeve or sheath, often referred to as atrocar, is inserted through the wall of the cavity. These sleevescontain a means of making a seal to prevent the leakage of gas fromwithin the body cavity. The end of the telescope containing theobjective lens is inserted into the body cavity through the sleeve, theattached light-source activated and the features within the body cavityviewed through the eyepiece of the telescope or on a video monitorreceiving signals from a video camera attached to the eyepiece.

The objective lens of the telescope often becomes soiled duringoperative procedure. Tissue particles, blood and other body fluidsattach to the lens and obscure vision. In these instances, the telescopehas to be removed from the body cavity and the objective lens wipedclean with a suitable cloth. During some operative procedures, thetelescope may have to be removed frequently to have the lens wipedclean.

The loss of vision due to soiling of the objective lens of the telescopeis a serious complication if the source of soiling is blood from atransected blood vessel, particularly an arterial vessel. The coveringof the objective lens of the telescope by arterial blood is oftenreferred to as the "red video" sign. This is particularly serious if thebleeding is extensive. The lens might be repeatedly obscured by blood orthe bleed be so extensive as to not allow enough time to safely removethe telescope to wipe the lens. In such cases the procedure is oftenconverted to an emergency "open" operative procedure.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the current invention to provide a simple, rapid andeffective means of cleaning the objective lens of a laparoscope,endoscope, coeloscope or similar telescope that addresses the problemsdiscussed above. In particular the invention allows for the rapid,effective and repeated cleaning of the objective lens without theremoval of the telescope from the body cavity.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a deviceconsisting of

a tube, the inner diameter of which is such that it accepts the shaft ofa laparoscope, endoscope, coeloscope or similar telescope or other rigidor relatively rigid optical devices used for the observation ofstructures within a body cavity;

a ridge near one end of the inner circumference of the tube that candirect a flow of fluid within the tube towards the central axis of thetube, or onto the objective lens at the end of the telescope shaftinserted within the tube;

a means of making a seal, such as a flexible O-ring, at the other end ofthe tube. The inside diameter of the seal is less than or the same asthe outer diameter of the shaft of the telescope. The purpose of theseal is to prevent or reduce the leakage of air and/or fluid between thetube and the telescope shaft.

an aperture in the tube which gives access to the inside of the tubebetween the seal and the ridge. The aperture is such that it allows theattachment of a fluid supply from a reservoir, such as a syringe orbulb, and/or a flexible tube from a reservoir.

Prior to the use of the telescope, the shaft of the telescope isinserted into the invention so that the end of the telescope, with theobjective lens, touches or almost touches the ridge. The invention isheld in place on the telescope shaft by friction due to the seal or by athread or a clip on the invention.

The combined invention and telescope are then utilised in the samemanner as the telescope would be utilised alone. That is, the combinedinvention and telescope shaft is inserted through a sleeve, sheath ortrocar into the body cavity, the external light source attached to thetelescope is activated and the features within the body cavity areviewed through the eyepiece or on a video monitor receiving signals froma video camera attached to the eyepiece.

During operation, whenever the objective lens of the telescope becomessoiled or obscured, fluid is injected from the reservoir attached to thereservoir, through the aperture and into the inside of the tube. Theinjected fluid flows between the telescope shaft and the inner wall ofthe tube until it reaches the ridge on the inner circumference of thetube. The ridge directs the fluid over the objective lens at the end ofthe telescope shaft. The fluid washes the lens and improves or restoresvisibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed by way of example with reference to accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 shows a sketch of one embodiment of the invention, showing bothan end and side view.

FIG. 2 shows a sketch of the side view of part of another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 3 shows a sketch of the side view of part of another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 shows a sketch of the side view of part of another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 shows a sketch of the side view of part of another embodiment ofthe invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention which consists of a tube 1the inner diameter of which is such that it accepts the shaft of alaparoscope, endoscope, coeloscope or similar telescope. Near to or atone end of the tube 1 is a ridge 5 on the inner circumference of thetube. The ridge 5 is such that it can direct a flow of fluid within thetube towards the central axis of the tube, or onto the objective lens atthe end of such a telescope shaft inserted within the tube 1. In oneparticular embodiment, the ridge 5 is formed by turning the edge of thetube 1 inwards to form a lip.

At the other end of the tube 1 there is a means of making a seal 3between the inner circumference of the tube 1 and the outercircumference of the inserted shaft of the telescope. In one particularembodiment the seal 3 is a flexible O-ring situated on the innercircumference of the tube 1.

The inside diameter of the seal 3 is less than or the same as the outerdiameter of the telescope shaft. The purpose of the seal 3 is to preventor reduce the leakage of air and/or fluid between the tube 1 and theinserted shaft of the telescope.

There is an aperture 2 in the tube 1 which gives access to the inside ofthe tube between the seal 3 and the ridge 5. The aperture 2 is such thatit allows the attachment of a fluid supply. In one embodiment, theaperture has a fixture 4 that allows the attachment of a reservoir, suchas a syringe or bulb and/or a flexible tube from a reservoir.

FIG. 2 shows part of another particular embodiment where the means ofmaking a seal 3 is on a separate fixture 6 attached to the end of thetube 1. There is also an aperture 2 in this fixture 6 which gives accessto the inside of the tube 1 between the seal 3 and the ridge 5.

FIG. 3 shows part of another particular embodiment where the means ofmaking a seal is a compressible washer 8 adjacent to a thread 7. In oneparticular embodiment the attachment of a telescope or another fixturehelps retain the washer 8 in place.

FIG. 4 shows part of another particular embodiment where the length oftube 9 between the ridge 5 and adjacent end of the tube 1 is such thatit additionally protects the objective lens on the end of the telescopeshaft.

FIG. 5 shows part of another embodiment where the ridge 5 is on theinner circumference of a distinct fixture 10 attached to the end of thetube 1.

The combined length of the tube 1, and the fixtures 6 and/or 10 ifpresent, is the same as or slightly longer than or shorter than thelength of the telescope shaft.

Prior to use, the shaft of the telescope is inserted into the inventionso that the end of the telescope, containing the objective lens, touchesor almost touches the ridge 5.

The invention is held in place on the telescope shaft by friction due tothe seal 3. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the invention isheld in place by a thread 7 in or on the tube 1 or in or on the fixture6 if present.

During operation, whenever the objective lens at the end of thetelescope shaft becomes soiled or obscured, fluid is injected from areservoir through the aperture 2 and into the inside of the tube 1. Theinjected fluid flows between the telescope shaft and the inner wall ofthe tube 1 until it reaches the ridge 5 on the inner circumference ofthe tube. The ridge 5 directs the fluid over the objective lens at theend of the telescope. The fluid washes the lens and improves or restoresvisibility.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lens cleaning device for a laparoscopictelescope comprising:a tube having one end, an other end, a central axisand an inner diameter which accepts a shaft of a laparoscopic telescope;a ridge positioned on an inner circumference of said tube proximate saidone end of said tube and directing a fluid within said tube toward saidcentral axis of said tube and over an objective lens of a laparoscopictelescope when inserted in said tube; a seal that restricts passage of afluid between said inner circumference of said tube and a shaft of alaparoscopic telescope, said seal being positioned between said ridgeand said other end of said tube; an aperture communicating with aninside of said tube between said seal and said ridge; and a fixture forconnecting a reservoir to said aperture.
 2. The device of claim 1 wheresaid ridge on said inner circumference is contained in a fixtureattached to said one end of said tube.
 3. The device of claim 2 wheresaid seal is contained in a fixture attached to said other end of saidtube.
 4. The device of claim 2 where said fixture attached to said oneend of said tube has a thread.
 5. The device of claim 3 where saidfixture attached to said other end of said tube has a thread.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5 where said fixture attached to said one end of saidtube has a thread.
 7. The device of claim 1 where said seal is containedin a fixture attached to said other end of said tube.
 8. The device ofclaim 7 where said fixture attached to said other end of sid tube has athread.
 9. The device of claim 1 where said other end of said tube has athread.
 10. A lens cleaning device for a laparoscopic telescopecomprising:a tube having one end, an other end, a central axis and aninner diameter which accepts a shaft of a laparoscopic telescope; aridge positioned on an inner circumference of said tube proximate saidone end of said tube for directing a fluid toward said central axis ofsaid tube and over an objective lens of a laparoscopic telescope wheninserted in said tube, said ridge on said inner circumference beingcontained in a fixture attached to said one end of said tube; a sealthat restricts passage of a fluid between said inner circumference ofsaid tube and a shaft of a laparoscopic telescope, said seal beingpositioned between said ridge and said other end of said tube; anaperture communicating with an inside of said tube between said seal andsaid ridge; and a fixture for connecting a reservoir to said aperture.11. The device of claim 10 where said seal is contained in a fixtureattached to said other end of said tube.
 12. The device of claim 10where said fixture attached to said other end of said tube has a thread.13. The device of claim 12 where said fixture attached to said one endof said tube has a thread.
 14. A lens cleaning device for a laparoscopictelescope comprising:a tube having one end, an other end, a central axisand an inner diameter which accepts a shaft of a laparoscopic telescope;a ridge positioned on an inner circumference of said tube proximate saidone end of said tube for directing a fluid toward said central axis ofsaid tube and over an objective lens of a laparoscopic telescope wheninserted in said tube; a seal that restricts passage of a fluid betweensaid inner circumference of said tube and a shaft of a laparoscopictelescope, said seal being positioned between said ridge and said otherend of said tube, said seal being contained in a fixture attached tosaid other end of said tube; an aperture communicating with an inside ofsaid tube between said seal and said ridge; and a fixture for connectinga reservoir to said aperture.
 15. The device of claim 14 where saidfixture attached to said one end of said tube has a thread.